Northumbria University launches national AI challenge inviting young people to imagine a hopeful future

Northumbria University has launched the Hopeful Futures AI Challenge, a ground-breaking national exhibition challenge inviting young people aged 11-16 to imagine and shape the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Led by a team of AI researchers at Northumbria University, the challenge recognises that young people will be the generation most affected by AI technologies, yet their voices are often absent from conversations about how AI should develop. The initiative aims to change this by placing youth perspectives at the centre of discussions about AI-enabled futures.

The challenge, which is funded by UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), asks teams to imagine they have been hired by the Global Future Tourism Board to promote what life in 2050 could look like to people living today in 2025.

Participants will create an exciting travel experience – in the form of a travel brochure, blog, social media campaign, or video – that highlights a hopeful future through one of three key themes: Environmental Futures, The Future of Learning and Healthcare (including mental health and wellbeing).

Project Lead, Professor Pam Briggs from Northumbria University, said: "Young people are growing up in a world where AI is increasingly shaping their education, healthcare, entertainment, and future careers, yet they're rarely asked what they want that future to look like. 

"This challenge is about flipping that script and saying: your voice matters, your imagination matters, and we want to hear your hopes for how AI can make the world better. 

"By focusing on real-world scenarios such as climate change and mental health and wellbeing, we're empowering young people to think critically and creatively about the role AI can play in solving the challenges that matter most to them and their generation."

Schools and youth organisations can register for the challenge from 15th December 2025, with entries due by Friday 13th February 2026 a 4pm. Once registered, participants can access downloadable resources to help teams develop their ideas. The Northumbria team will curate submissions into both virtual and physical exhibitions across the North East of England in March 2026, including a pop-up fictional travel agency.

The Hopeful Futures AI Challenge is made possible through Northumbria's Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence (CCAI), a UKRI-funded initiative and research centre focused on developing AI systems that are fair, transparent, and beneficial to ordinary people by involving them in the design process.

CCAI includes a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) that trains PhD researchers, as well as a broader Centre for Responsible AI, with a mission to ensure technology serves all citizens equally. The work addresses real-world challenges across various sectors, including health, education, and public services, with a strong emphasis on community engagement in the North East.

Schools and youth organisations can register and take part in the Hopeful Futures AI Challenge at https://hopefulfutures.ai/